Dakar: The toughest race on the planet
More people reach the summit of Mount Everest each year than finish the annual Dakar rally.
French biker Cyril Despres (C), winner of the 2010 Dakar Rally moto category, celebrates with Pal Anders Ullevalseter of Norway (R) and Francisco Lopez Contardo of Chile at the podium in Buenos Aires on January 17, 2010.ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP / Getty Images
Followed by fans, Marcos Patronelli (251) and his brother Alejandro (277) of Argentina ride their Yamaha quads as they enter Buenos Aires after placing first and second in the quad class of the 2nd South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010, January 16, 2010.ENRIQUE MARCARIAN
Chilean driver Francisco Lopez Contardo on his Aprilla, greets fans upon arrival to Park Ferme and getting the third place of the 2010 Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires on January 16, 2010.ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP / Getty Images
The last biker in the final placings for the 2010 Dakar Rally, France's Christian Califano, rides his motorbike on the podium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on January 17, 2010. Frenchman Cyril Despres won his third Dakar Rally motorcycling title, ahead of Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter and Chile's Fransisco Lopez Contardo.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP / Getty Images
Christina Meier of Germany celebrates after crossing the finish line of the fourteenth stage of the 2nd South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010 in Buenos Aires, January 16, 2010.JACKY NAEGELEN
Jacek Czachor of Poland rides his KTM motorcycle during the thirteenth stage of the 2nd South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010 from San Rafael to Santa Rosa, January 15, 2010. REUTERS/Jacky NaegelenJACKY NAEGELEN/Reuters
Marc Coma of Spain rides his KTM motorcycle during the thirteenth stage of the second South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010 from San Rafael to Santa Rosa January 15, 2010.STRINGER/ARGENTINA
Tamsin Jones of Britain rides her Yamaha motorcycle during the thirteenth stage of the 2nd South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010 from San Rafael to Santa Rosa January 15, 2010.JACKY NAEGELEN
France's David Fretigne rides his Yamaha during the 13th stage of the Dakar 2010, between San Rafael and Santa Rosa, Argentina on January 15, 2010. Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter won the stage, France's Cyril Despres took the second place and leads the race and Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo finished third.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP / Getty Images
A biker competes during the 13th stage of the Dakar 2010, between San Rafael and Santa Rosa, Argentina on January 15, 2010. Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter won the stage, France's Cyril Despres took the second place and leads the race and Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo finished third.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP / Getty Images
Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter rides on his KTM during the 13th stage of the Dakar 2010, between San Rafael and Santa Rosa, Argentina on January 15, 2010. Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter won the stage, France's Cyril Despres took the second place and leads the race and Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo finished third.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP / Getty Images
Portugal's Helder Rodrigues rides his Yamaha during the 13th stage of the Dakar 2010, between San Rafael and Santa Rosa, Argentina on January 15, 2010. Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter won the stage, France's Cyril Despres took the second place and leads the race and Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo finished third.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP / Getty Images
France's Alain Duclos rides his KTM during the 13th stage of the Dakar 2010, between San Rafael and Santa Rosa, Argentina on January 15, 2010. Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter won the stage, France's Cyril Despres took the second place and leads the race and Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo finished third.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP / Getty Images
Canada's Patrick Trahan rides his Honda during the 5th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile, on January 6, 2010. Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo won the stage, France's Cyril Despres took the second place and leads the race and France's David Fretigne the third. Casteu, who was second this morning, broke his leg during this stage.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP / Getty Images
Cyril Despres of France celebrates on the podium after winning the 2nd South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010 in Buenos Aires, January 17, 2010.JACKY NAEGELEN
Annie Seel of Sweden, the first woman in the motorcycle category, celebrates on the podium of the 2nd South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010 in Buenos Aires January 17, 2010.
Norway's biker Anders Ullevalseter celebrates with Dakar Director Etienne Lavigne (R) on the podium of the Dakar 2010, in Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 17, 2010. France's Cyril Despres won the Dakar 2010 ahead of Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter and Chile's Fransisco Lopez Contardo.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP / Getty Images